This position is bugeted for $5,720.00 - $6,200.00 per month and is non-negotiable.

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the laboratory of Dr. Dwayne Roach at San Diego State University (SDSU). This NIH-funded position focuses on the development, mechanistic dissection, and translational advancement of bacteriophage therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a high-priority pathogen in antimicrobial resistance. The Roach lab integrates in vivo infection models, phage engineering, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interaction studies to improve the design and application of therapeutic phages.

The position offers broad engagement across both preclinical and translational domains. In addition to mechanistic research, the postdoc will gain direct experience with therapeutic development workflows, spanning early-stage discovery through compassionate use applications in individual patients. SDSU is a R1 research institution with expanding investment in microbiology and translational biomedical research. The Roach lab maintains active collaborations across the San Diego research ecosystem, including UC San Diego, and regional clinical centers, offering a rich environment for interdisciplinary work and professional development.

For questions about the position, contact Dwayne Roach at dwayne.roach@sdsu.edu
Lab Website: http://www.phagebio.org

Research Focus
This position centers on the in vivo performance and translational development of bacteriophage therapy targeting P. aeruginosa. The postdoc will lead studies to define the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic phages using murine models of pulmonary and systemic infection. These experiments will evaluate how phages distribute through host tissues, persist over time, and reduce bacterial burden across varied dosing strategies. A parallel effort will examine how P. aeruginosa adapts to phage pressure in vivo and how resistance mechanisms impact therapeutic durability.

The project includes analysis of host responses to phage therapy, including innate immune activation, barrier disruption, and inflammation. These studies will integrate transcriptomic, genomic, and tissue-level approaches to identify host and microbial features associated with treatment outcomes. Insights from this work will guide the design of engineered phages with broader host range, improved resistance evasion, and reduced immunogenicity to enhance therapeutic performance in vivo.

A core translational component of this position involves direct participation in compassionate use phage therapy. The postdoc will work with clinical partners to identify and characterize phages for patient-specific treatment and perform phage–pathogen matching. Manufacturing is performed in-house, providing hands-on exposure to production and quality control workflows.

This role offers a rare opportunity to integrate basic research with real-time clinical application.
This is a hypothesis-driven position with strong opportunities for scientific independence, translational impact, and interdisciplinary collaboration within a rapidly evolving research environment.

Minimum Education

• PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, or related field
• Research experience with phages, bacterial pathogenesis, or host–microbe interactions
• Strong publication record

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS

• Experience with P. aeruginosa or other Gram-negative pathogens
• In vivo murine infection models
• Phage genome engineering or synthetic biology
• Bioinformatics (e.g., RNA-seq, genome assembly, multi-omics)

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.